Automatic transporting-guiding device for sewing machines



T. COHEN AUTOMATIC TRANSPORTING-GUIDING DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Aug. 6, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 nvwszvroa TOBIAS COHEN g rmy/v5) AUTOMATIC TRANSPORTING-GUIDING DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Aug. 6, 1956 T. COHEN Jan. 27, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. COHEN (-93%;- AIYWR/VE) Tosms Jan.2' 7, 1959 v QCOHEN 2,870,725

AUTOMATIC TRANSPORTING-GUIDING DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES -Filed. Aug. 6, 1956 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 27, 1959 T. COHEN AUTOMATIC TRANSPORTING-GUIDING DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 6, 1956 United States Patent AUTOMATIC TRANSPORTING-GUIDING DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES Tobias Cohen, Brooklyn, N. Y.

' Application August 6, 1956, Serial No. 602,365

3 Claims. (Cl. 112211) This invention relates .to a novel device for improving the operation of a sewing machine particularly with respect to the formation of tucks, hems and pleats.

Conventional sewing machines include devices for feeding sheet material through the stitching needle. Where it is desired to form tucks or pleats, feeding mechanisms, adapted to deliver material folded in various tucking patterns are also in common usage. However, after the material leaves the needle, it is the usual practice in the garment industry to manually hold the material with the proper tension and alignment relative to the needle. Inasmuch as the material is continuously moving through the machine towards a receptacle for the processed material, the operator must continuously pull and align the material leaving the needle. In addition to requiring considerable physical effort, this pulling operation also re.- quires skill. The operator must exert a predetermined amount of tension on the material and hold it in proper alignment. If one pulls too hard, the material will tear at the needle; if one pulls too lightly too much slack will accumulate and the proper alignment will not be maintained.

Accordingly it is the principal object of this invention to provide an automatic economical device for transporting material from a sewing machine at a proper tension and alignment for the accurate formation of hemming, tucking and pleating.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an automatic device for transporting material from a sewing machine at a specific speed, tension and alignment and which is adapted for convenient connection to a conventional sewing machine.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a sewing machine including an automatic synchronized device for removing the material passing through the needle at a specific tension speed, and direction relative to the needle.

A still further object of this invention relates to a device adapted to receive sheet material of varying thickness and exert a constant predetermined longitudinal force on such material and deliver such material to a receptacle therefor.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of an automatic device adapted to receive sheet material of varying thickness and exert a constant predetermined longitudinal force on such material to cause the said ma terial to be delivered at a constant speed to a receptacle 'ice objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a front elevational .view of a transportingguiding mechanism in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the rollers.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevational view, partially in section, of one of the bearing blocks for the rollers.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the bearing block illustrated in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of said bearing block.

Fig. 7 is an end elevational view showing the drive means of the device.

Figure 8 is a plan view of a modified form of the invention.

Figure 9 is a sectional elevation through plane 99 of Figure 8.

wherein the device is adjustable to accommodate a wider range of material thickness or to deliver the material at different speeds.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of parallel spaced rollers having means responsive to actuation of a sewing machine whereby the rollers will rotate in opposite directions adapted to grasp and trans port sheet material therethrough at a constant speed wherein the roller include adjustable resilient means for varying the spacing between the rollers.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a sewing machine table 10 (Figures 1 to 7) on which is mounted a sewing machine 11 and to the rear thereof a material transporting and guiding mechanism, generally designated by numeral 12. The sewing machine 11 may be any conventional needle stitching device, the invention being op-' sewing head may be of any ordinary design and is therefore not shown. The invention does not involve the structure of the tucking attachment.

The transporting and guiding mechanism 12 (Figures 1 through 7) comprises a generally rectangular bed plate 14, having a first rearwardly projecting extension 15 at one end thereof and a second rearwardly projectingv extension 16 displaced from the other end thereof. Mounted on extension 15 is an upright bearing structure 17, while mounted on extension 16 is an upright bearing structure 18. On the main portion of the bed plate 14 there are mounted at spaced positions two upright bearing structures 19 and 20. Bearing structure 19 is transversely aligned with structure 18, while bearing structure 20 is longitudinally aligned with structure 19.

The bearing structures are all identical'in design and as shown in Figs. 4 to 6, each structure is constituted by a main block 22 and a floating block 23 superimposed thereover. Main block 22 is of generally rectangular form, the lowermost part of the block having a pair of end flanges 24 and 25 and a pair of side flanges 26 and 27 flush with the bottom surface of p the block. The flanges act to prevent any endwise or sidewise rocking motion of the main block 22 when it is secured to the bed plate 14. I

Extending vertically through the main block between the upper and lower surfaces thereof are a pair of spaced bores 28 and 29. The upper surface of the main block is provided with an arcuately-shaped raised portion 30 and extending horizontally through said raised portion is a journal bore 31 adapted to rotatably support a shaft.

The floating block 23 is provided with a pair of spaced vertical bores 32 and 33 in register with bores 28 and 29 in the main block. The under surface of thefioating block is provided with an arcuately-shaped raised portion 34 opposite a complementary raised portion 30 on the main block, while extending horizontally through portion 34 is a journal bore 35 for rotatably supporting asha'ft.

Extending through the aligned bores 32 and 28 in the main and floating blocks is a threaded shank 36, the lower end of the shank passing through an opening in bedplate 14. Similarly, a threaded shank 37 is extended through bores '33 and 29, this shank passing through another openlng in plate 14. To secure the main block firmly to the plate 14, nuts 38 and .39 received on the lower ends of shanks 36 and 37,,resnectivelyQhear against the lower surface of plate 14, while nuts '40 and 41 bear against the top surface of the mainblock.

The s acing between the main and floating blocks is adjustable by means of nuts 42 and 43 on shanks 36 and 37, respectively, these nuts being spaced above nuts 40 and 41andbeariug against the lower surface of the floating block 23 to separate it from the main block. Interposed between nuts 42 and 40 is a helical ex ansion spring '44. while interposed between nuts 43 and 41 is an identical helical expansion spring 45.

In practice,to reduce the separation between the floating 'block and the main block, the nuts 42 'and 43 are turned .on their respective shanks against the' action of the springs 44 and 4.5, whereas to widen this se aration the nuts are turned in the direction urged by said expansion springs. Thesprings 44 and 45, therefore, by ap ly- 1ng upward pressure to nuts 42 and 43, tend to lock these vnuts and maintain the adjusted s acing between the main and floating blocks against the effects of vibration or other disturbances.

In order to bias the floating block 23. resiliently downward. helical expansion springs 46 and 47 are provided which surroundshanks 36 and 37, respectively. Springs 46 and 47 are com ressed between the up er surface of thefloating block 23 and the wing nuts 48 and 49. By turning the wing nuts to contract or expand the s rings. the, degree of resi ient pressure applied to the floating "block may be adjusted. Additional downward tension may'be lmposedon the floating block by means of contraction springs 50 and 51 connected at either end between pairs ofpegs 50' and 51' attached to the main and floating blocks and projecting horizontally therefrom, thesesprings providing a minimum non-adjustable pres-- sure. Where the need does not exist for an adjustable .tension, springs 46 and 47 "may be dispensed with altogether. On the other hand the tension provided by sprin s 50and 51 may be made adiustable'by providing .a series of vertically spaced holes on the main blocks for vselective engagement by pegs 50 and 51'.

As best seen in Fig. 1, extending horizontally through the bearin s provided in the floating blocks 23 of the .spaced bearing structures 19 and 20 is a shaft 52, while -directly thereunder is 'a similar and parallel shaft 53 extending throu h the bearings onthe main blocks 22 of-said structures. Mounted on the shaft52 at one side of the bearing structure 19 is acylindrical roller 54 and mounted directly thereunder on shaft 53 is a roller 55, the fabric 13 being engaged between the complementary rollers. Asbest seen inFig. 2, between the floating blocks 23 of "bearing structures 17 and 18, a shaft 58 is horizontally .extended, while mounted on this shaft is a roller 59. Below shaft 58 is a similar shaft 58 extending between the hearings in the main blocks 22 and having a pair of rollers 60 and 60' thereon.

As is evident from Fig. 4, the initial spacing between the-complementary rollers may be adjusted by varying the separation between the main and floating bearing blocks to accommodate a given fabric thickness, whereby the rollers serve to feed the material through the sewing machine. The amount of pressure imposed on the fabric drawn by the rollers may be adjusted to a desired degree by varying the tension imposed on the floating blocks, by turning the Wing nuts.

As shown separately 'in Fig. 3, each roller is cylindrical inform and has a longitudinal bore .61 therein toreceive the associated shaft, the roller being affixed to the .shaft by a screw 62 extending radially into the roller to engage the shaft. The number of rollers on each shaft may be increased by sliding additional rollers 57 thereon, .more rollers being necessary .where material of greater width is being processed. The rollers are preferably of steel, although other-materials can beused.

In order to drive the transporting mechanism, a motor 63 is provided, which motor also may be used to operate the sewing machine. The shaft of motor 63 is provided with a pulley 63 which is coupled by means of a continuous belt 64 and belt .64 to a pulley 65 connected to the end of the shaft 53. If preferred, the connection between motor '63 and pulley 65 may be effected by means of a foot-actuated clutch mechanism of any ordinary type to permit the operator to control at will the operation of the mechanism. The nature of this clutch connection forms no part of the'present invention and is therefore not disclosed herein. It is to be noted that the sewing machine is actuated by motor 63 through a pulley arrangement better seen in Figure 7. Thus actuation of motor 63 results, in simultaneous actuation of the sewing machine and the transporting and guiding mechanism. By properly selecting the relative size of pulleys which drive the sewing machine and the transporting mechanism, it is possible to synchronize the speed of the mechanism and the sewing machine to cause the material to flow through the needle at a desired rate and tension.

Shaft 52 -is operatively coupled to shaft 53 by means of intermeshing gears 66 and 67 keyed to the respective shafts adjacent bearing structure 20 as well as intermeshing gears 68 and 69, adjacent bearing structure 19 and intermeshing gears 70 and 71, adjacent bearing structure 17. The teeth on these gears are cut to a depth sufficient to maintain the gears in engagement for any adjusted spacing'between'the floating and main blocks. Thus the rotary motion imparted to shaft 53 by motor 63 is also transmitted to shaft 52 and the complementary rollers are simultaneously rotated in opposing directions to convey the fabric therethrough (Figures 1 through 7).

In order to drive the other set of rollers, a pulley '72 is keyed to drive shaft 53 intermediate gears 67 and 69, which pulley is coupled by a. continuous belt 73 to a pulley 74 connected to the end of shaft 58. Shafts :58 and 58' are operatively coupled by intermeshing gears keyed thereto, onlythe gears 75 and 76 on said shafts 58 being shown in Fig. l. The-operation and adjustment of the complementary rollers on shafts 58 and 58' are substantially identical with that of shafts 52 and 53 (Figures 1 through 7).

Figures 8 and 9 depict a preferred embodiment of the invention wherein a modified transporting and guid ing device is mounted on a sewing machine table 77 provided with a sewing machine 78 and a motor 79. The transporting and guidingdevice includes a base plate 80 having transverse extension supports 81 and 82. A fixed end bearing assembly 83 is mounted on thesupport 81 by means of bolts 84 and 85. Resilientadjustable bearing assemblies 86 and 89 are mounted on support 82 andsimilar bearing assemblies 88 and 89 are mounted on the base plate 80 in transverse alignment with assemblies .86 and 87 respectively. Bearing assemblies 86, 87, 88 and 89 are exactly similar to the bearing structure 18 of Figures 1 and 2 and need no further decription. Bearing assembly 83 is of the fixed type having no provision foradjustment and merely provides anend bearing for one of the shafts described below. If desired assemblies 86, 87, 88 and 89 can be adjusted lonitudinally by the provision of slots 117 in'the table and base plate as indicated by the dotted lines adjacent assembly 88. A pair of parallel shafts 90 and 91 invertical superimposition are supported rotatably at spaced axial positions by assemblies 88 and 89 (see Fig. 9). The upper shaft 98 is journalled through the ,adjustably mounted floating blocks 92 and .93 of bearing assemblies .88 and.89 whereas lower shaft'91 is journalled through the fixed main blocks 94 and 95 of the bearing assemxblies ,88sand 89.. Asecond pair .of parallel superimposed shafts 96 and 97 are supported :rotatably .at spaced axial :positions -.by bearing assemblies 86 and 87. Shafts 96 and 97 are each parallel respectively to shafts 90 and 91 within horizontal planes. Shafts 90, 91 and 96 terminate at the same axial point indicated by 98 and Figure 9, whereas shaft 97 extends continuously tobearing assembly 83. A large pulley 99 is mounted on the other end of lower shaft 91 and asmaller pulley 100 is also mounted thereon at a position adjacent to pulley 99. Rotary motion of shaft 91 is transferred to shaft 90 by means of gear sets 101 and 102 mounted on the shafts on either side of bearing assembly 89. It is obvious that rotation of shaft 91 will induce counter-rotation of shaft 90. Rotary motion of shaft 91 is transmitted to shaft 97 (lower shaft) via the belt 103 and the large pulley 104 mounted on the shaft 97. Shaft 96 (upper shaft) terminates at 105 (see Figure 8). Rotary motion from shaft 97 (lower shaft) is transmitted to shaft 96 (upper shaft) via gear sets 106 and 107 on either side of bearing assembly 87 (see Figure 8). The pulley 99 is operatively connected to the motor 79 by a small pulley 108, mounted on the motor shaft 109, a belt 110, a pulley set 111 and a belt 112. The pulley set 111 includes parallel pulleys of varying diameter to effect varying speed relationships between the motor, the needle and the transporting device to accommodate various types of materials. I

The extension of shaft 97 relative to the other shafts provides a more adequate support for extremely wide bands of material and insures an unsnarled movement of such wider materials to the receptacle (not shown behind the shaft 97).

Superimposed shafts 90 and 91 are provided with opposing rollers 113 spaced properly in a vertical direction whereby material from the sewing machine 78 can be inserted between the rollers. Rotation of the rollers will cause the material to be pulled transversely away from the needle in a uniform fashion.- Similarly superimposed shafts 96 and 97 are also provided with similar opposing rollers 114 in transverse alignment with rollers 113. The rollers 114 assist rollers 113 in transporting the material away from the machine and provide an additional support therefor. It should be noted that due to the relative size of pulleys 104 and 100, shafts 96 and 97 will rotate at smaller speeds than shafts 90 and 91. This feature is important because a slight sag in the material between the two shaft pairs is necessary for efficient operation of the device. It has been experimentally determined that a specific ratio of pulley diameters gives optimum results. If both shaft pairs traveled 'at equal speeds, the material is pulled with too much tension relative to the needle causing damage to the fabric.

The embodiment of Figures 8 and 9 has been found ,to produce superior results compared to that shown in Figures 1 and 2. Due to the uniformity of the location of the bearing assemblies 86, 87, 88 and 89, the shafts have better supports thereby eliminating objectionable vibration and sagging of the shafts. Moreover the small pulley 100 is mounted closely adjacent to the large pulley 99, thereby minimizing benching stresses in shaft 91. In Figures 1 and 2 the small pulley 72 is mounted between bearing structures 19 and 20 resulting in the generation of larger bending and vibrational effects in the shafts. However the embodiment of Figures 8 and 9 requires an additional bearing assembly, more shafting and a larger base plate and hence is more expensive to fabricate.

Operation Actuation of motor 79 rotates pulley set 111 thereby causing the actuation of the sewing machine '78 through a pulley 115 and a belt 116. Simultaneously belt 112 is actuated thereby driving pulley 99 and the first pair of shafts 90 and 91. Motion is transmitted to the second pair of shafts 96 and 97 through belt 103, pulley 104 and the gear sets. Shafts 91 and 97, the lower shafts, rotate material between the needle and the-rollers.

shafts, counter clockwise resulting in the transporting of the material from the needle towards and beyond the shafts. As in the case of Figures 1 and 2, the upper shafts and 96 are resiliently mounted and vertically adjustable relative to the fixed respective lower shafts 91 and 97.

It is further to be noted that the relative pulley and gear proportions are specifically selected to cause the material to be transported through the rollers at a speed less than .the speed of the material through the needle. That is to say the transporting device operates at a speed synchronated with the sewing machine speed whereby a predetermined tension is maintained in the The particular gear and pulley proportions in conjunction with the roller spacing were determined after long experimentation to give the desired result. With a properly proportioned device the material will flow evenly through the device and even an inexperienced operator will be capable of forming straight uniform tucks, pleatsand hem lines. The operator merely has to hold the material with one hand so that it can flow into the sewing machine. Fatigue is reduced to a and operat ing costs are reduced tremendously due to elimination of the need for skilled labor.

It is to be understood that the disclosed arrangements are merely preferred embodiments illustrating the means and method for practicing the invention. Other forms and modifications within the broad scope of the improvement are contemplated herein.

Having thus disclosed in detail the nature of the invention, a grant of Letters Patent is desired for these novel improvements as defined in the following claims:

1. The combination of a sewing machine and a dc vice for transporting and guiding material from the sewing machine at a uniform predetermined speed and tension, comprising a support table having substantially a planar surface, said sewing machine being mounted on the table with the horizontal axis of the sewing machine parallel to the planar surface, said device comprising a pair of spaced parallel sh afts whose axis are in a plane normal to the planar surface with opposite ends, parallel to the horizontal axis of the sewing machine and the planar surface, including a bearing assembly rotatably supporting said shafts, secured to the table said table and assemblies including means for adjusting the assemblies axially along the shafts, said sewing machine including a pulley, one of said shafts having a pulley at one end, in further combination with a motor driven pulley opcratively connected with driving belts to the sewing machine and shaft pulleys whereby actuation of the motor causes simultaneous actuation of the sewing machine and shafts, said shafts including meshing gears whereby both shafts rotate simultaneously in opposing directions, said shafts including opposing adjacent rollers at the shaft ends remote from the pulley and aligned with the sewing machine needle, said bearing assembly being located between the shaft pulley and the rollers, said bearing assembly having a bushing adapted to receive one of said shafts rotatably, said assembly further including a block vertically movable relative to the base having a bushing spaced from and parallel to the first said bushing adapted to receive the other of said shafts each of said assemblies having threaded bolts symmetrically placed on both sides of the bushings extending thru the table in further combination with springs mounted on the bolts urging the block towards the base and means for forcing the said resilient means against the movable block with varying pressure, in further combination with nuts mounted on the bolts between each block and base whereby the roller spacing is restricted to a predetermined minimum.

2. The combination as in claim 1 wherein there is further provided another pair of shafts parallel to and clockwise and shafts 90 and 96, the respective upper 15 spaced horizontally from the first pair of shafts and (If :the second said pairof shafts having a pulley at one and :operatively connected to the motor operated pulley, said second pair of shafts including a pair of opposing rollers aligned transversely with the first said rollers, a bearing assembly similar to the first said bearing assembly and meshing gears causing opposing rotation of the second said pair of shafts, one .of the second said pair of shafts being axially extended beyond the other shafts, :in combination with a fixed .end bearing adapted to support the extended shaft rotatably whereby wide bands of material can be properly supported and transported from the sewing machine.

3. The combination as in claim 1 wherein. the shafts .are provided with a second bearing assembly identical to the .first said assembly and spaced therefrom along .the shaft axis.

Reierencesflited itithe fileof this patent UNITED STATES RATENTS Marbleet "a1. Sept. 22, 'Dilman'n Feb. 28, Jones Aug. 6, 'Potdevin Oct. 2, 'Jaeger Nov. 19, Clausen Aug. 31, Gerstein Sept. '5, Schwartz June FOREIGN PATENTS France Sept. 20, 

